Hendrik IV, koning van Spanje, te paard 1593

This is Antonio Tempesta’s engraving of Hendrik IV, King of France and Navarre, made in the late 16th or early 17th century. It’s an image packed with the visual codes of power, designed to project authority in a time of religious conflict. Mounted on a rearing horse, Hendrik is dressed for battle, holding a baton of command. Below him, ranks of soldiers advance toward a fortified city. The print’s composition draws on a long tradition of equestrian portraiture. It recalls similar images of Roman emperors, and it connects Hendrik to a lineage of military leaders. Hendrik’s image had a clear political purpose. As a Protestant who converted to Catholicism to become king, Hendrik faced challenges to his legitimacy. Prints like these were a form of propaganda, aimed to shore up his support and project an image of strength. Historical archives can tell us much more about the cultural and political uses of images like this. By exploring those resources, we can understand the social conditions that shaped its production and reception.